Collateral Damage Daily for July 5

The Marlins traded for Carlos Lee yesterday hoping that he can help an offense with Hanley Ramirez and Giancarlo Stanton in it, rather than replacing one of those two. Ramirez is dealing with inflammation in his knee, but he returned to the lineup yesterday. Stanton still hasn’t returned to the lineup after testing revealed a loose body in his right knee. He had trouble in his left knee in spring training. Right now, Stanton is day-to-day and may have to skip the Home Run Derby.

Will Middlebrooks hasn’t returned to the lineup but is still being called day-to-day with left hamstring tightness. … Kirk Nieuwenhuis was initially diagnosed with a bruised hand, but then he felt sharp pain in his right hand on Tuesday. It got a little better on Wednesday, but he was sent for an MRI. … Dee Gordon suffered a dislocated right thumb after sliding into third base last night. He’s going to have an MRI today to assess the damage.

Additions

Daisuke Matsuzaka was placed on the disabled list with a strained right trapezius muscle. Matsuzaka’s inability to stay healthy is evident in that this is now his eighth time on the disabled list since 2008; it’s unclear when he will return from his latest malady. The trapezius is a muscle with different segments, and Matsuzaka’s pain is closer to the neck than it is to the back of the shoulder. It’s hard the strain the trapezius muscle because it is such a large, strong muscle. Matsuzaka likely had a muscle imbalance, leading to the injury.

We know that he felt pain about six weeks ago while on rehab assignment, but apparently the trapezius was bothering him before that. The fact that it didn’t respond to conservative treatment, including a cortisone injection, has me concerned that he’ll be out for a while. The average time missed for a neck strain is about 47 days in starting pitchers, but strains closer to the shoulder cost less than a month. Mauro Gomez was called up to take Matsuzaka’s roster spot.

Andrew Cashner left Tuesday’s start in the second inning due to a strained latissimus dorsi muscle and was placed on the disabled list yesterday. This is the second time in two years he suffered an injury to his shoulder area; he had a rotator cuff injury in 2011. Cashner missed almost five months because of the rotator cuff, but lat strains cost about 56 days for a starting pitcher. No timetable has been given yet for his return, but he’s likely to be shut down from throwing for several weeks before starting a throwing program. The best-case scenario would put Cashner on the DL for just a month. Brad Brach was brought up to take Cashner’s roster spot.

Andre Ethier was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique, retroactive to June 28. This means that Ethier will be eligible to return on July 13, so Dodgers fans could see both Kemp and Ethier in the outfield in roughly one weeks’ time. For outfielders, this would be a few weeks quicker than the average 29 days. Mark Ellis was activated in a corresponding move.

Chien-Ming Wang was placed on the 15-day DL with a right hip strain, retroactive to July 1. According to reports by James Wagner, Wang’s personal trainer felt the hip was giving Wang trouble, particularly in getting his arm into the right slot. Wang has not been productive since his return from a strained left hamstring. It’s hard to directly connect the left hamstring strain to the right hip strain, but there could be a compensatory effect if his hamstring is not back to 100 percent strength and motion. Wang will be eligible to return July 15, but the Nats might keep him on the DL longer to work out the mechanical problems that the left hamstring and right hip injuries have caused.

Jesse Crain was placed on the 15-day DL retroactive to June 24 with a right shoulder strain. The good news is that testing ruled out structural damage in his shoulder, but according to reports by Daryl Van Schouwen, Crain is actually dealing with a strained posterior capsule. Posterior capsule tightness is common among pitchers, but true strains are not as common. If he did suffer a posterior capsule strain, it could be more indicative of being loose anteriorly rather than being tight posteriorly. Deunte Heath was called up to take the roster spot.

It doesn’t matter what profession you are in; there is always someone who can’t catch a break. Brian Roberts is that guy. After finally making it back from a lengthy battle with post-concussion syndrome, he was forced back to the 15-day DL with what is being termed as a strained groin. He is going to be getting an arthrogram of the hip because of concerns for other potential injuries, such as a torn labrum. An estimated return is speculation at this point. Robert Andino is expected to play at second base in Roberts’ absence, but Xavier Avery was called up to take the roster spot.

Todd Coffey will need his second career Tommy John surgery; his first came in 2005. Shawn Tolleso replaced Coffey on the roster.

Subtractions

Mark Ellis was activated from the 15-day DL yesterday after missing 46 days due to emergency surgery on his left leg May 19. The acute compartment syndrome jeopardized the neurovascular structures in his leg and could have led to paralysis of the leg or amputation. Luckily, Ellis was treated in time and made it through his rehab appearances without any real setbacks. He was replaced on the DL by Ethier and should be back in the lineup soon.

Travis Hafner was activated from the 15-day DL yesterday after he missed 41 days because of surgery on a torn medial meniscus in the right knee. He progressed a little slower than expected, but mostly when it came to running. Luckily, he doesn’t have to run on every play during the game as the DH. It’s interesting that in the small sample size we have of DHes undergoing surgery on just their meniscus, they return slower than catchers and first basemen.

Henry Rodriguez was activated from the 15-day DL on Tuesday after missing 27 days with a strained right index finger. The strained finger likely came up because of compensation for, or as a direct result of, the contusion he sustained from slamming his finger in a bedroom door. He made three appearances on a rehab assignment and threw in front of the pitching coach before being activated. Chien-Ming Wang’s ineffectiveness and injury likely played a role in the timing in Rodriguez’s activation. Wang was placed on the DL in a corresponding move.

The Red Sox finally cut ties with Bobby Jenks on Tuesday. Jenks dealt with the strained biceps in May 2011 and a stiff back later in 2011 before being diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism, a potentially life-threatening condition. He then underwent surgery on a few bone spurs in his spine in mid-December before requiring an emergency surgery a few weeks later because of a potentially life-threatening infection caused by leakage of spinal fluid. Jenks hasn’t appeared in a game in 2012, and an agreement was reached to buy out the remainder of his contract.

Sandy Leon is off now, and was optioned back to AA Harrisburg. If Tracy, Nady and Storen are all ready right after the All-Star break, it becomes really difficult to imagine Xavier Nady back with the Nats. He sure hasn't shown us much yet, and roster spots are going to be hard to come by from here on out.